This is the time of year when I start to crave a perfect summer salad, full of all the things that speak of the season…except the heat. If you live in Texas (like me) it is hot – and I don’t mean just a tad warm. These are the days when we tend to keep the shades drawn, the A/C going full blast and the food a little lighter. We drink tea by the gallons and count the days until the temperatures fall into the double digits again.

Until then I try to find ways to stay cool in the kitchen and enjoy the harvest of summer while it lasts. A Perfect Summer Salad is a great way to take advantage of everything good about what’s available at your local farmer’s market or the grocery store.

You can use any of your seasonal favorites but the blend of crisp cucumbers, sweet red onion, ripe avocados (they’re perfectly in season right now) and flavorful cilantro seemed like the right blend to me. Everything about this is beyond simple and the “dressing” is totally basic. It’s just olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper.

What could be easier? And the lemon juice will keep the avocados fresh if you have any leftovers to stash in the refrigerator for lunch the next day.

The rub is a unique blend of flavors, a definite step back from the BBQ blend that I love but that I've have had just about enough of by mid summer. Cardamom, coriander, cumin, ginger, a pinch of cayenne and brown sugar all come together to flavor the chicken with the perfect punch. I removed the skin from the thighs, rubbed the chicken and then let them sit in the refrigerator... Read More→

I have always loved this somewhat retro dessert called Chocolate Delight...it's creamy, full of chocolate and very decadent. If you walk into a summer get together in the south you can almost bet there will be a dish of Chocolate Delight on one of the tables, it's just something people do when the weather gets warm and someone is asked to bring a dessert. I just love the crunch... Read More→

My 24 Hour Pasta Salad recipe is an old classic of my mother's and will forever remain my very favorite summer salad. It's always a hit whenever I take it to a party, everyone loves it and it never seems old fashioned even though it's been around forever. The spaghetti gives it a unique "twist" and letting the flavors mingle overnight makes a big difference. The original recipe called for... Read More→

I probably make my 20 minute Potatoes Au Gratin once a week because I usually have the ingredients on hand and they are fast and super delicious. Who doesn't love a spoonful of cheesy, savory potatoes as a side to almost anything? And I use cheddar and monterey jack cheeses but I've been known to use whatever is in my cheese drawer at any given moment. By the way... Read More→

When dining out, one of the first items on a menu that always catches my eye is a Blue Cheese Wedge Salad. I can't really enjoy a steak dinner to it's full potential without a wedge salad as a warm up. My typical routine is to only eat half of my salad and then ask the waiter if I can please hold on to the rest when my steak arrives because I like the way the two go together so well... Read More→